Culture & Tourism news

Works of Hans Christian Andersen on Display in Seoul

12/30/2015SMG2367

The Seoul Museum of History (Director KANG Hong-bin), in cooperation with the Odense City Museum of Denmark, will be holding an international exhibition titled I Belong to the World from December 4, 2015 to February 21, 2016. The exhibition will display the life story and artwork of the world-famous fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen.

The exhibition is divided into two main sections: 1) Introduction to Denmark and Danish Queen Margrethe II, The Life of Hans Christian Andersen, and The Works of Hans Christian Andersen; and 2) Introduction to Artwork Created by Artists Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen and related hands-on experiences.

Introduction to Denmark and Danish Queen Margrethe II

Queen Margrethe II of Demark is also an accomplished painter who has a deep affection for Andersen’s works. She has even produced films based on Andersen’s fairytales, two of which are on display at the exhibit: The Snow Queen and The Swan Prince. Costumes and decoupage work made by the Queen for the films are also on display.

The Life of Hans Christian Andersen

Hans Christian Andersen was born as an only child to poor parents and spent much of his early years in hardship. At the age of 14, he left his parents’ home for Copenhagen to become an actor with the royal theater company. Although Anderson did not succeed as an actor, he soon became a well-known poet and fairytale writer. Following his success, he traveled throughout Europe and formed friendships with celebrities such as Charles Dickens of the United Kingdom and members of several royal families. This part of the exhibition includes Anderson’s personal belongings such as a bed, travel bag, and fountain pen (etc.), on loan from the Odense City Museum.

The Works of Hans Christian Andersen

Andersen also showed a talent for paper art and painting, works of which are on display at the exhibit along with Anderson’s original manuscripts.

On display for the first time in Korea is the classic Fairy Tales Told for Children (1835), which includes the first fairytales ever published by Hans Christian Andersen. Also on display is a copy of the Korean children’s magazine Aideul Boi (10th edition, June 1914), which contains the first of Andersen’s fairytale (Four Jeolgeui Story) ever translated into Korean.

The exhibit also includes two lithography prints titled Hans Christian Andersen’s Paper Dolls made by Andy Warhol two weeks before he died.

Andersen’s first book of tales, Eventyr, fortalte for børn (1835; “Tales, Told for Children”)

Korean children’s magazine Aideul Boi, which contained the first of Anderson’s fairytales ever to be translated into Korean

A piece by Andy Warhol

In addition to the art displays, the exhibition also includes experience programs for children and families. Visitors to the exhibit are invited to read some of Anderson’s greatest works while relaxing on plush chairs in the exhibition room, and children may help decorate the museum’s Christmas tree with paper ornaments.

– Admission: Free– Hours of operation: 9:00 am through 8:00 pm (6:00 pm on weekends and public holidays).※ Closed on Mondays (except for public holidays) and January 1.

For more information, please visit the Seoul Museum of History online (www.museum.seoul.kr) or call 02-724-0274.